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brutus442 - 2012-04-27 20:48

Had seen this a few days ago....check the final sale price!

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/290699606494?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Did any of our members here buy it??

Is the WM10 now the "M90" of walkmans?

docp - 2012-04-27 22:58

Originally Posted by Brutus442:

Is the WM10 now the "M90" of walkmans?

ha ha

The wm10 series (wm10/10II/20/30/F10/F10II/F30/w800) was a major breakthrough in miniaturization ...a masterpiece of its time and not too complex (easy to maintain).

The size of a cassette case when 'collapsed' they fit any shirt pocket with the exception of the double deck w800 (two wm10s back to back...playback on one , playback & recording on the other!)

There's been an almost unhealthy increase in interest towards my all time favorite series.. to the point that most outlets list the once 'easy to source' belt as now 'NLA' ....but don't worry ...So folks..If you don't have a wm10...go grab one now before they end up scarce ...and I'll help you out with a belt

docp - 2012-04-27 23:01

retrodos - 2012-04-27 23:26

I guess I overpaided for it's bigger brother? But is my favorite series out of the whole collection.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300697660723?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649

ao - 2012-04-28 00:12

Doc will hate me for saying this but this auction is just one of those rare one offs. Clean WM-10/20's rarely reach the three-figure mark.

I like the boombox comparison though I suspect the WM-10 is more your nice Sanyo mini rather than the M90. The M90 mantle has to be handed to the Sony DD9 I'm afraid.

brutus442 - 2012-04-28 04:54

Originally Posted by agentorange:

Doc will hate me for saying this but this auction is just one of those rare one offs. Clean WM-10/20's rarely reach the three-figure mark.

I like the boombox comparison though I suspect the WM-10 is more your nice Sanyo mini rather than the M90. The M90 mantle has to be handed to the Sony DD9 I'm afraid.

I'd agree with you Cris on the one off deal, but lately the WM10 series has been commanding sky high prices especially for an intact battery cover and functionality wasn't a huge throw off. No headphones, or accesories etc.

DocP..you're services are about to become rarer than an honest politician...You are THE BELT MAN!

Retrodos, I think you got a good deal given it's still in it's box and looks fantastic. The WM10 in the auction though didn't seem like a $200.00 model....but it obviously did to someone.

P.S Cris pardon the lack of walkman awareness but wouldn't the DC6 be a closer to comparison to the M90 in terms of rareness, features etc?? Again, I'm no walkman expert...

nak.d - 2012-04-28 06:18

Originally Posted by Brutus442:

P.S Cris pardon the lack of walkman awareness but wouldn't the DC6 be a closer to comparison to the M90 in terms of rareness, features etc?? Again, I'm no walkman expert...

Maybe in terms of features, but not rareness as the WM D6C usually pops on the bay for example weekly...

docp - 2012-04-28 22:53

'Value' is strange thing...sometimes based on demand - supply, often dictated by need vs want and most often hyped up based on a sudden 'trend' ....what we're seeing now is a mix of a few committed rich enough buyers + a few boxed units + the 'collectable' tag which suddenly generates an anxiety amongst those with even a 'half idea' ...all of a sudden everyone WANTS!!! A wm10

Call it a panic attack if you want...but the funniest situation might be one where we all realize ...a couple of years down the line....that $200 plus wasn't probably that bad a deal

Most well presrved units are going to sell for between $300 to 600 in 2020 ....unless the Maayans were right about 2012...but then again if the world ends in a few months you might as well pick upp a wm10 whatever the cost

Just as with some of the trendier clothing sometimes stuff that looks 'deceptively' simple...costs a bomb....the wm10 is a simple and humble unit...but no collection is complete unless you've atleast had a unit pass through your fingers

ao - 2012-04-28 22:58

To be honest, it's not clear that time itself has been an overwhealming factor in any increase in value of walkmans over the last 10 years. With the single market (eBay) prices fluctuate wildly based on a number of variables i.e. quality of auction (detail, images, seller honesty), completeness of item, number of similar items on sale and most importantly, number of interested parties. It is impossible to conclude any growth/decline curve based around this tight set of variable criterium.

brutus442 - 2012-04-29 04:01

Originally Posted by agentorange:

I agree with the bulk of your statement Cris, butI wouldn't say it's impossible to conclude.

Like you mentioned, "number of similar items on sale" / "Number of interested parties"

It seems that equation can be skewed to a great degree given certain models regardless of their condition. In this instance it is possible to conclude a growth curve around certain models.

Units like the WM-10 in any condition are going for crazy $$ now. Maybe as our good Docp mentioned a "panic" buying spree has grown recently, much like their boombox brothers?

@Docp...Doc if the Mayans were right about this year...it's time to run up my credit...off to races..

brutus442 - 2012-04-29 04:04

Originally Posted by DocP:

...the wm10 is a simple and humble unit...but no collection is complete unless you've atleased had a unit pass through your fingers

That statement is bang on DocP! It's a fantastic little unit that represents Sony during it's engineering peak.

docp - 2012-04-29 05:08

........and

S2G being an open 2 all friendly site ...shows everyone that the so called not working ones can still be mended ... there was a classified ad on the net recently from someone working at a recycling centre who wanted to sell a 'non working' wm10 with headphones.....Now from what S2G teaches its visiting 'non login' guests ...that might just mean:
a) a simple 'plugging' in of headphones and it works or
b) a simple belt change and you are now officially a vintage walkman collector

...capable of 'restoring' the dead back to life.
Enjoy the thrills of the hunt folks coz the numbers are now declining...keep your eyes peeled for lucky finds...BUT if you have the funds don't let good units pass you buy....luckily this is still a hobby with good 'resale' rates should you feel like backing out at a later date.
As my dear friend Cris has pointed out most of us only have access to worldwide ebay...a few of us are lucky enough to also have access to the Netherlands based auction site and the Japan based one (no names

) ,Google searches + online classifieds...and of course flea markets/thrift sales/garage sales...Surpringly and sadly the most economical source of units and parts remains S2G itself...mostly on account of the decency and kindness of members to one another! HATS OFF to that...keep the hunt and the sportive spirit going!

brutus442 - 2012-04-29 05:44

Truer words have never been spoken, DocP

If it wasn't for gents like you DocP, we collectors would be looking at bookshelves of paperweights!

Thanks for keeping us dinosoaurs of analog, alive!

dottor.walkman - 2012-04-29 06:56

Hi all,

I would ask an opinion:
you think a Sony WM-20 pink color is less rare of a wm-10?
Thanks!

docp - 2012-04-29 07:27

I might be mistaken but...the easiest to find is silver followed by the champagne/gold followed by the pink and last of all the blue and black. In the wm30/10II black and silver are equally common, red units come next, green and blue are pretty rare